McHugh Peak (4,311 ft.) Bear Valley route (North Ridge): 5.4 miles round trip, 2,300 ft. elevation gain. Difficulty: Class 2s4. My time: 2.5 hours Rabbit Creek routes (East Ridge): ~10 miles round trip, ~2,900 ft. elevation gain. Difficulty: Class 2+s4. … Read More

Gold Cord Lake Trail Less than 1 mile each way, ~600 ft. elevation gain. Difficulty: Class 1. My time: 1 hour round trip The Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska are a maze of lush alpine valleys, old mining roads, and black-stained … Read More

Purchased February 2018, reviewed August 2018, updated December 2018 According to Fjällräven, the original Greenland jacket was introduced by Åke Nordin in 1968. Fjällräven (pronounced “fee-ahl-rah-ven”) has produced various versions of their “most classic” climbing jacket ever since, in a … Read More

For some, skiing the Arctic to Indian traverse through western Chugach State Park is a bucket-list accomplishment. For others, it’s an annual tradition. Either way this 21-mile tour across ice bridges, through serene cottonwood groves, up tundra valleys between shining snow-laced peaks, and down a hair-raising luge to Turnagain Arm is bound to be an adventure.… Read More

In March 2017, the stars and snows aligned to create a legendary day of Alaska fattire biking. Word had gotten out that you could ride from Hunter Creek across the Knik River to Knik Glacier, and when we arrived there … Read More

Blister Prevention and Care

Raft Care and Maintenance Packrafts are very low-maintenance watercraft, but following a few simple guidelines will help maximize your packraft’s lifespan and make your boat more enjoyable to use. Cleaning Cleaning packrafts removes contaminants that can cause mold or chemical … Read More

Every day before sunrise on Maui, a motorcade of rental cars creep up to the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakalā and throngs of bleary-eyed tourists spill out to shiver through the sunrise. It really is a sight, but when I first … Read More